WO2001062615A1

WO2001062615A1 - Bulk container

Info

Publication number: WO2001062615A1
Application number: PCT/GB2001/000808
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Patrick Dempsey; Stephen Thomas Mcaleavy
Original assignee: Arena Ibc Limited
Priority date: 2000-02-26
Filing date: 2001-02-26
Publication date: 2001-08-30
Also published as: GB0004482D0; AU2001235772A1

Abstract

A one-piece container is disclosed for both storage and/or transportation of liquids and finely divided material. The container comprises a base 1 and an integral continuous wall 4 upstanding from the base and open at its upper end. The wall is provided at opposite locations with a pair of pockets 8 spaced from and substantially parallel with the base adapted to receive, in use, forks of a lift truck which permit the container to be manipulated.

Description

BULK CONTAINER

This invention relates to containers for the bulk storage and/or transport of liquids and finely divided materials.

In known containers of this kind the material to be transported or stored is housed within a liner bag received within the container itself and with which it forms a unit. The container is rigid in construction and may be of "knock-down" or collapsible construction, or it may comprise a one-piece substantially rigid container adapted, when empty, to be stackable with other containers of similar construction.

According to our invention a container comprises a substantially rigid one-piece container comprising a base, an integral continuous wall upstanding from the base and open at its upper end, and a lid for closing the open upper end of the container, the wall being formed at opposed locations with a pair of pockets spaced from and substantially parallel with the base adapted to receive, in use, forks of a lift truck by means of which the container can be manipulated.

Providing the fork-receiving pockets in the wall of the container dispenses with any need for the container to be used in conjunction with a separate pallet or for an integrated pallet at the base of the container which wastes space. The pockets also enable the attitude of the container to be changed as required, for example loading, unloading, transit and storage. Typical capacities are 500 and 1000 litres - too heavy to be inverted by hand when full .

The pockets may be closed on four sides to define channels into which the forks are received. Alternatively, the pockets may be defined by a stepped recess on the side walls, defining an open sided channel. The lifting arms or forks may be received in the open channel.

The container can be inverted by the use of a fork lift truck . This enables material contained within the plastic liner bag to be discharged through a central opening in the liner bag and which is uppermost when the container is its normal upright position .

In an alternative, a suitably sized aperture may be provided towards or at the bottom of the liner bag which co-operates with an opening towards the bottom of the container wall or base for release of contents. A buttress threaded collar around the opening in the container may be provided which is adapted to receive a cap that seals the opening. A valve may be provided within the opening which is covered by the cap. Thus, if the valve leaks, the cap prevents any spillage of contents. The valve may form a part of the liner bag.

The liner bag is so constructed and arranged as to allow air to vacate from the bag at the loading stage and, in order to keep the bag inflated on discharge, compressed air is pumped into the bag. This can be achieved by means of a two-way valve or similar structure. Variables in specific gravity and consequent ullage can be compensated for within the lid, or by the use of an inner retaining lid.

Preferably the container is manufactured in one piece from an appropriate polymer, suitably polyethylene, or polypropylene, in a single rotational or injection moulding process or similar. It could be blow moulded. It may have a single skin over at least the base and optionally a lower part of the sides. A double skin may be provided at the top of the sides. This may have an opening defining the pockets between the two skins. Preferably the container is a square or rectangular cross section with the wall tapered inwardly from its open upper end to the base. This facilitates nesting of the container with containers of similar construction. When nesting occurs the lid is hinged about a connection into a fully open depending position and adjacent containers are orientated from each oiher by 180° in order to accommodate the depending lids.

The container may have ribbed walls to increase its rigidity.

The container may be nestable, the outer profile of the container being complementary to the inner profile.

Producing the container as a one-piece moulding enables the container to contain 100% of any spillage or leakage from a liner bag the container is therefore substantially leak proof.

One or more, and preferably at least four separate feet may be provided on the base of the container. The feet raise the base off the ground to receive part of a lifting device. The feet may be welded onto the base of the container. This is preferred as it allows the container to be single skinned without any protrusions on the inside that would occur if the feet were bolted in place. The feet may be plastic and may be moulded separate from the main body of the container.

In accordance with a second aspect, the invention may provide a liner bag for use in combination with the container of the first aspect of the invention.

The lid, which is optional, may be attached to the walls of the container. It may be attached by a hinge. A secondary lid may be provided which fits over the top of the container and also over the main lid during discharge. This may be sloped from its sides to a central opening to define a funnel. The secondary lid may be secured to the top of the container during discharge.

One embodiment of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a container in a loaded position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but with the container in an inverted, discharge position;

Figure 3 is a nest of containers each similar to that illustrated in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 illustrates the arrangement of feet in the base of the container; and

Figure 5 shows an optional lid for use during dispensing.

The container illustrated in the drawings is constructed from a one-piece plastics moulding, suitably polyethylene or polypropylene with the moulding being carried out by a single rotational or injection moulding process or other technique. This produces a substantially rigid container comprising a base 1 of substantially square outline, and a substantially rigid wall 4 which is upstanding from the base and tapers outwardly to an open upper end 3 of an area greater than that of the base 1 . The wall 4 is constituted by similar opposite sides 4 and opposite ends 5. The open upper end 3 of the container is adapted to be closed by a lockable lid 6 which is hingeably connected at one end to the upper end of one of the walls 4. Each side wall 4 is provided with an open-ended fork-receiving pocket 8 parallel to the base 1 . The pockets 8 are adapted to receive the forks of lift truck by means of which the container can be manipulated.

When the container is to be used for the transit or storage of liquid or a finely divided material the medium to be stored is received in a liner bag 9, formed suitably of plastics material, and with which the container forms a unit 9. The liner bag 9 is of a configuration similar to the interior of the container.

The liner bag 9 is filled with the medium through a central fill and discharge valve 10. When the bag is fully loaded the container is closed by the lid 6 which is lockable and sealable in its closed position.

When the medium comprising a finely divided material the medium can be discharged through the valve 10 whilst at the same time pumping compressed air into the container through a two-way valve or similar structure.

When the medium comprises a liquid the container can be manipulated into the inverted position illustrated in Figure 2, by the use of a lift truck, with the liquid then being discharged through the valve 10. In such an operation compressed air may also be introduced into the liner bag so that the material of the bag is forced to the extremities of the container to prevent liquid being trapped within folds, creases and the like and it also prevents the bag snagging on the discharge valve, particularly when pump pressure is applied for more viscous products.

Inverting the container for discharge ensures an efficient volume and flow of liquid with a lower retention of the medium in the liner. Since the container is constructed from a one-piece plastics moulding it is substantially leak proof so that any spillage from the liner bag will be contained within the container itself.

Providing damage to a liner bag has not occurred cleaning of the interior of the container is unnecessary since product contamination is eradicated by the use, on each trip, of a clean new liner bag, suitably irradiated if necessary.

With the lid is disposed in a downwardly depending open position a plurality of containers can be nested together for return shipment, as illustrated in Figure 3. Alternate containers are displaced by 180° , to accommodate the depending lids.

Optionally, as illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, a set of plastic feet 10 may be welded onto the base of the container to raise the base from the ground. The feet are spaced to allow the arms of a forklift to pass between them.

Finally, Figure 5 illustrates an optional lid 11 which can be placed over the open end of the container to ease discharge. The lid 11 is sloped from its edges towards a central opening 12 and acts as a funnel during discharge. The lid can be stored at the point of discharge, and used to discharge contents from several different containers .

Claims

1 . A container comprising a substantially rigid one-piece container comprising a base, an integral continuous wall upstanding from the base and open at its upper end, and a lid for closing the open upper end of the container, the wall being formed at opposed locations with a pair of pockets spaced from and substantially parallel with the base adapted to receive, in use, forks of a lift truck by means of which the container can be manipulated.

2. A container according to Claim 1 which includes a liner bag having a central opening through which the contents of the bag can be discharged, the opening being uppermost when the container is its normal upright position.

3. The container of Claim 2 in which the liner bag is so constructed and arranged as to allow air to vacate from the bag at the loading stage and, in order to keep the bag inflated on discharge, compressed air is pumped into the bag.

4. A container according to any preceding claim which is manufactured in one piece from an appropriate polymer, suitably polyethylene, or polypropylene , in a single rotational or injection moulding process or similar.

5. A container according to any preceding claim having a square or rectangular cross section with the wall tapered inwardly from its open upper end to the base.

6. A liner bag for use in combination with the container of any one of

Claims 1 to 5.